Ivan Savvidis released a statement saying he had been trying to “protect tens of thousands of PAOK fans from provocations and clashes”EPA

The gun-toting owner of a Greek football team has apologised for leading a pitch invasion that sparked international outrage and led to the suspension of the country’s premier football league.

Ivan Savvidis, who has been in hiding since an arrest warrant was issued, released a statement on the website of his club PAOK saying he had been “emotional” and that his actions had been intended to “protect tens of thousands of PAOK fans from provocations and clashes”.

Mr Savvidis, one of Greece’s richest men and a close friend of President Putin of Russia, stormed onto the pitch with a pistol strapped to his hip after what appeared to be a decisive goal for PAOK in the 89th minute of its top-of-the-table clash with AEK was…